Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-11
a !! ]. I ols!sip's:. |! Deed.

Miss Perkins cleared her throat and
BOXED knowing. .s5 #:.5 2 81
81 didn't pose you'd care so much,
Nervie, I, she said, after q moment OF
silence, during which the young girl
had turned her lace away.
i Miss Perkins was one Of the born
.aggravators Of humanity in general
and in particular. Minerva Woodford
ielt horribly tempted to tell her SO.
But Minera had wonderful self.control
lor such smiling azure eyes and thick
massed, ung0vernable auburn hair.
It was no light imposition. this that
she had borne throughout that glori..
Dus midsummer afternoon; the COM
pany Of Miss Perkins ''to tea," the
threads of gossip Miss Perkins unrav-
sled (inch for inch with the yard OF
the great gray balls from which she
was always knitting ugly stockings for
Heaven knew whom) and knit up
slowly with her own peculiar skill of
narration Into a substance quite as
nlgy and durable as the product OF
her hands.
It was one OF Miss Perkins self-en-
Joined duties to communicate dis
agreeable tidings. She felt q delight
ful sense OF peace and contentment
now that she had concluded her task
of enlightening her young and mother
less hostess. "Nervie was a good
girl and hadn't ought to be deceived
ieastest." she said to herself, "more
specially by such a worthless critter
as that Jason Hawkes."
"Ididn IS pose you'd d care so much,"
she repeated, with an air ofsympathy.
Minerva was reaching through the win
dow to break off some of the pink
roses that hung there red-ripe and
luscious. She did not obey her inn
pulse to turn and speak sharply. She
did not say out her thought "Ner-
avie!" How she hated to be called
"Nervie!" No one with any sense call
ed her anything but Minnie. No one but
Miss Elyira Perkins. She wished Miss
Perkins would never come to see her.
She thought all this, but what she
said was milder, as she faced about
carelessly and stood arranging the
roses.
Il am sure I hardly understand
you, Miss Perkins. Why should you
suppose cared what was said about
Jason Hawkes.? Surely he has right
to marry whom he pleases..''
She might have been a little paler
than usual, "but her voice was quite
steady.
Miss Perkins smiled discreetly.
'"There amt much chance for the
young girls" she observed, "when
there's a designin' widow come to
town. Mis- Darrell's just got Jason
Hawkes. wound completely round her
finger. 'Tisn't that he's so much &C.
count, though if he'd married you,
you would've had q good influence.
He's altogether too fond O. race-horses
and such-like evil doings. But for her
to come and set herself up so might
ly-why, she amt once returned your
call now, I'll be bound"
Minerals lovely face flushed pain.
fully at the reminder. She stepped
from sitting-room to kitchen and
put some water in vase for the roses.
Her heart throbbed with great ache,
but never should her caller know it.
''1t's almost time for father to
come," she said, quietly. "I'm going
to set the table now, Miss Perkins.
Will you sit by. the door? I'll bring
your chair"
"Oh, lawl l can manage for myself"
said the elderly maiden, rising in some
haste to push the wooden rocker be-
lore her over the sill and down the
!ength OF the shining kitchen. 1t was
q wing Of the house facing the road
and the door was open.
A sudden hoof-beat and rumble of
wheels on the soft and yellow dusty
road. A carriage spun by after Ger
tain well.known pair OF jet.black
horses.
Miss Perkins set up shrill cry of
triumph.
Il never! There they go; he s driving
her out to the fairgrounds. What do
you think of that 'Nervie?"
But Minerva made no reply.
Miss Perkins turned only to see the
girl slip quietly from the room.
Mss Perkin set there alone for g.
considerable space. The tea-kettle
had begun to sing cheerily. The snowy
tablecloth and the shining glassware
had an inviting aspect. There was
plenty OF Miss Perkins favorite sauce
and sweet-pickle; there was just the
kind Of tea-biscuit and cocoanut> cake
that she dotted on. She closed her
eyes and clasped her hands with q
sigh OF thankfulDess for duty perform.
ed and blessings about to be enjoyed.
Then Minerals father arrived.
'How-dy' MISS Perkins?" he said.
''Where's Minnie?"
Minerva reappeared, just q little
pale and shadowy around tho eyes,.
Here am, father" she said, gently;
tea is ready. Ihad something to do,
I'd most forgotten"
Miss Perkins went away just after
tea. She did not stop to ''help 'Ner-
vie do the dishes," as usual. It was
getting dark and she had q long
walk she suddenly remembered. :.
Minerva went about her work quite
unassisted. Her father was due at
some village meeting, and so presently
she was left alone in the house.
A terrible sense of depression fell up
on her. She wondered if Jason Hawkes.
were coming. She was quite prepared.
She had everything ready to return to
him-his letters and the little pearl
ring he had given her. Everything was
wrapped securely; the package was
too heavy. for her pocket t-quite too
heavy. She wondered if he would
come. And how should she feel when
she had given all back to him and said
to him that they had better part9
She hardly knew. Oh, life was hard
and bitter! Jason had loved her-she
knew he had loved her until that
woman had come to the village, ''the
designing widow" as Miss Perkins had
said. Perhaps Miss Perkins was right.
s Minerva finished her work and. went